Bow-spacing clamp for vehicle-tops.



No. 841,072 PATENTED J'AN JS, 1907. M; M. TROUT.

BOW SPAGING GLAMPFOB, VEHICLE TOPS.

APPLIGATION FILED M315. 1906 1.; UN TED PATENT omenfivirtitsiiyirrnou'r .OIiTELM RA; new YORK. Assienoe'roi eer'w SHOEMAKER, or ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

f Bow-sPAc'mG CLAMP FoR-V'EmcLE-ToPs.

ne -841m.

Specification of Inetters Patent.

Application filed February 15, 1906. Serial No. 301,170.

To: all whom, it may concern.-

'Be it known that I, MIL Es-M. TROUT, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Elmir'a, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Bow-Spacing Clamp for Vehicle-Tops, of

' bing upon one another or from Wearing or cutting the top covering where it folds in between the bows.

Heretofore it has been-customary, espe-- constant vibration and jolting of the vehicle while in motion cause the bows to abrade one another and to wear and cut the fabric of the topcovering. To avoid this, I provide an attachment which may be carried separately or applied directly to the gooseneck or other top-support, whereby the bows will be spaced a suitable distance apart to prevent all liability of wearing or cutting between the members of the top.

I attain my ob'ect by constructing the device as illustrate in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the back seat of a motor-vehicle with the bows in lowered position, the top covering, however, being omitted; Fig. 2, an end elevation of my improved clamp with parts shown in section Fig. 3, a side elevation, thereof; Fig. 4, a

view of the under side of the clamp, and Fig.

5 a modification showing a cheaper mode of construction.

Like letters ofreference designate like parts in the several views.

In Fig. 1, A represents the bows of the top, which when the top is lowered rest upon a gooseneck B or other form of support attached to the bank of th v hicle-body upon the bows to clamp them tightly upon this rest.

each side, the strap 0 bein wound around,

'55 As above stated in so fasteningithe Patented Jan. 8, 1901.,

bows in .place they are drawn by the strap tightly together, resultingin thewe'a'r and cutting of the several members of the top;

To hold the bows'apart, I provide at D a clamping device by which the bows are held separated when strapped to the rest. r This spacing-clamp will be applied to the'bows fj either at the front or rear'of'the'rest,*preferably on the side next the cover, Oriemay be applied directly over thel r'esnsoa's to be strapped in with the bows upon the rest.

The clamp D consists of aback pie-0e13,, preferably of metal covered 'with'leather or other non-abrading material, provided with a series of studs F, having a covering G, of rubber or other suitable material, and projecting from the backpiece a distance equal to the thickness of the bows, du'e allowance being made for variations in size of different makes of bows. At one end, at H, is hinged a covering-strap I, preferably of metal covered with leather or other material in like manner with the back piece B, said back piece and strap being provided with means at J for fastening the two togetheras, for instance, a splitpin K, passed through eyes formed on the two members E and I. I may, however, use any other suitable means for retaining the parts together .in locked position. The cushions G on the studs are spaced a art from one another and from the ends of 51c clam to receive between them the bows A, an the spacing apart of the bows by the studs is preferably about one inch. The cushions are preferably of rubber in order that they may hold the bows snugl and also receive between them bows of di ferent dimensions.

When in use, one of these clamps will be slipped into place between the bows on each side of the vehicle when the cover is lowered,

after which the bows will be fastened down upon the rests B by means of the straps C. l/Vhen not in use, the clamps will be carried in the tool-kit or other convenient place on the vehicle. I may, however, apply my clamps directly to goosenecks attached to the vehicle-body,- as indicated by the broken lines at N in Fi 2, thereby dispensing with the strap C. Vhen the clamp is so applied it 5 buckle, which constltutethe outside closing Not only will the bows be spaced a .cushioned spacing-studs G are will always be in position for use, and there will be a saving of timein fastening the bows in their loweredposition.

The bows-will be held by my clampsniuch more firmly than where straps alone are used.

the clamps, but they will also .be hel in true vertical alinement and prevented from side rackin t v In ll ig. 5 I have shown a cheaper mode of construction for the clamp, wherein the fastened, as before, to aleather-covered back piece E the ends ofthe cover at M having" stitched in with them straps L, carrying tongue and member of the clamp.

- A=spaeingclamp so arranged may be constructed in various Ways attached to the vehicle-body or separate, as

may be desired, and the number and size of the studs. may be varied to correspond with the n'umber and size of bows in any given top. Moreover,.while I have described my device as applicable especially to motor-ve hicle tops, it may also be used to advantage with the tops of other road-vehicles.

art by and carried either.

7 Without, therefore, confining mysel-i to the construction of theclainp as herein-described by way of illustration, What I claim as In in- ,vention, and desire to secure by Letters .at

ent, is'-- 1. 'A device of the characterdescribed comprising means for spacing apart the bows of a vehicle-top, when 1n lowered position, in combination with means for fastening the bows together when so spaced apart.

2. A spacing-clamp for vehicle-tops cone prising a back piece, one or more studs pro jecting therefrom, and means for 'holding'the stud or studs-between the bows of the top.

3. A spac1ng-clamp for vehicle-tops com prising rigid back pieceione or more studs projecting therefrom, a c osingiece hin ed to one end of the back iece an 'adaptc to close over the ends of t e studs, and means for'locking the free ends of'said-pieces tev gethen- In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.-

MILES M. TROUT. Witnesses: v

A. S. DIVEN, J. H. OBRIEN. 

